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Rick Nelson

Nelson resigns after 8 years at Ankeny, will rejoin UNI as offensive line coach

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Ankeny football coach Rick Nelson is headed back to Cedar Falls. Nelson, who was a longtime assistant coach at Northern Iowa before taking over the Hawks' program in 2015, has announced his resignation. He will rejoin the Panthers' staff as the offensive line coach. Nelson replaces Ryan Clanton, who was the offensive line coach and offensive … [Read more...] about Nelson resigns after 8 years at Ankeny, will rejoin UNI as offensive line coach

Hawks record shutout over S.C. East, will host Johnston in Class 5A quarterfinals

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Survive and advance. That's all that matters this time of the year. The third-ranked Ankeny football team struggled offensively, but the Hawks' defense rose to the occasion in a 17-0 victory over No. 13 Sioux City East in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs on Friday at Ankeny Stadium. "Our defense played really well," said Ankeny coach Rick … [Read more...] about Hawks record shutout over S.C. East, will host Johnston in Class 5A quarterfinals

Hawks fly into playoffs with 54-6 win at Lincoln, move up to No. 3 in RPI rankings

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The Ankeny football team is cruising into the Class 5A playoffs. The Hawks, who were tied for third in the latest Associated Press rankings, rolled to a 54-6 victory at Des Moines Lincoln in their regular-season finale on Friday. Ankeny improved to 8-1 with its sixth straight win. Lincoln finished with a 1-8 record. The Hawks have outscored … [Read more...] about Hawks fly into playoffs with 54-6 win at Lincoln, move up to No. 3 in RPI rankings

‘I was proud of our defense’: Hawks shut down Waukee NW en route to 31-7 win

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Ankeny football coach Rick Nelson had an uneasy feeling about Friday's game against visiting Waukee Northwest. The seventh-ranked Wolves were coming off a 20-14 victory over Ankeny Centennial on the same field a week ago, when Brady Grisham ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns. "I was scared they were just going to be able to run it down our throats," … [Read more...] about ‘I was proud of our defense’: Hawks shut down Waukee NW en route to 31-7 win

‘It felt so good to be back there’: Patton helps Hawks to victory over Roosevelt

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Jamison Patton felt right at home on Friday night at Drake Stadium. So did his Ankeny football teammates. Patton caught four passes for 37 yards against his former team as the third-ranked Hawks built a 28-0 lead and went on to post a 35-18 victory over host Des Moines Roosevelt. He played for the Roughriders last season before transferring to … [Read more...] about ‘It felt so good to be back there’: Patton helps Hawks to victory over Roosevelt

‘We beat ourselves’: Hawks struggle offensively in 17-10 loss to Dowling

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A loss early in the season doesn't mean that the Ankeny football team won't be playing for a championship in November. In 2020, the Hawks suffered a loss at Waukee in Week 2, but went on to capture the Class 4A state title. Last year, Ankeny was 4-2 at one point, but still went on to play for the Class 5A championship. Now, the Hawks will try to … [Read more...] about ‘We beat ourselves’: Hawks struggle offensively in 17-10 loss to Dowling

‘It was intense’: Patton scores go-ahead TD, lifts Hawks past rival Centennial

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Jamison Patton transferred to Ankeny to play in football games like Friday night's showdown against Ankeny Centennial. The move has paid off for the Hawks. Patton scored the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter and second-ranked Ankeny went on to defeat the Jaguars, 17-10, before an overflow crowd at Ankeny Stadium. The former Des Moines Roosevelt … [Read more...] about ‘It was intense’: Patton scores go-ahead TD, lifts Hawks past rival Centennial

After sluggish start, Hawks roll past Waukee behind Williams’ 3 2nd-half TDs

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Ankeny football coach Rick Nelson didn't know what his team was doing during the first half of Friday's season opener at Waukee. The Hawks were intercepted three times before the half and went to the locker room trailing, 7-0. "We did some really extreme things," said Nelson. "I'll have to watch the film. I don't know sometimes what we were doing. I'm … [Read more...] about After sluggish start, Hawks roll past Waukee behind Williams’ 3 2nd-half TDs

Led by Kohl, No. 1 Hawks look to contend for 2nd state title in 3 years

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There's been a lot of hype surrounding the Ankeny football team the last couple of seasons. It might be time to take the hype up another notch. The Hawks are No. 1 in the Class 5A preseason rankings by The Des Moines Register. They return several standouts from last year's state runner-up squad--and have also added some talented newcomers. "It's a … [Read more...] about Led by Kohl, No. 1 Hawks look to contend for 2nd state title in 3 years

‘They played better than us on this night’: Hawks fall short in title game rematch

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(Story by Rob Gray) It hurts to watch. You’re helpless. The game is essentially decided and the opposing team is flexing and raising its arms on the sideline with 3-plus minutes left. That’s where Ankeny’s football players found themselves late in Friday night’s 24-7 rematch loss to Southeast Polk in the Class 5A championship game and — you … [Read more...] about ‘They played better than us on this night’: Hawks fall short in title game rematch

‘We just wanted to avenge that loss’: Hawks pound Valley, soar into title game

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Nobody can blame Mason Morrow if he has some nightmares this week. The Valley quarterback was running for his life Friday all over the UNI-Dome turf. Ankeny used a suffocating defensive effort to limit Morrow and the Tigers to 248 total yards and rolled to a 35-13 victory in the Class 5A semifinals at Cedar Falls. The Hawks avenged an earlier 38-35 … [Read more...] about ‘We just wanted to avenge that loss’: Hawks pound Valley, soar into title game

Kadolph, Hawks avenge loss to Valley, will play S.E. Polk for Class 5A crown

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Colin Kadolph and the Ankeny football team are one win away from defending their state title. Kadolph rushed for 183 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead the Hawks to a 35-13 victory over Valley in the Class 5A semifinals on Friday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. "He makes me so proud," Ankeny defensive lineman Braden Simonsen said of Kadolph. "He … [Read more...] about Kadolph, Hawks avenge loss to Valley, will play S.E. Polk for Class 5A crown

DOMEWARD BOUND!: Hawks throttle C.R. Prairie, will play Valley in semifinals

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On a windy night in Cedar Rapids, the Ankeny football team turned to its power running game to earn another trip to the UNI-Dome. Colin Kadolph rushed for 78 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the second half, and the fifth-seeded Hawks dominated the final two quarters to defeat fourth-seeded Cedar Rapids Prairie, 37-7, in the Class 5A quarterfinals on … [Read more...] about DOMEWARD BOUND!: Hawks throttle C.R. Prairie, will play Valley in semifinals

Hawks knock Lincoln out of playoffs, move up to No. 5 in final RPI rankings

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The Ankeny football team appears to be ready for the Class 5A playoffs. The fourth-ranked Hawks closed out the regular season on Friday with a 56-0 victory over visiting Des Moines Lincoln. The loss knocked Lincoln (5-4) out of playoff contention, dropping the Railsplitters to 18th in the final RPI rankings. The top 16 teams in the final rankings will … [Read more...] about Hawks knock Lincoln out of playoffs, move up to No. 5 in final RPI rankings

KABOOM!: Kadolph rushes for 250 yards, 6 TDs in Hawks’ rout over Northwest

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At times this season, the Ankeny football team hasn't looked like the squad that won the Class 4A state championship in 2020. On Friday night, however, the Hawks looked like the team to beat in the inaugural Class 5A playoffs. Colin Kadolph rushed for 250 yards and six touchdowns to lead fifth-ranked Ankeny to a 48-7 victory at Waukee Northwest, … [Read more...] about KABOOM!: Kadolph rushes for 250 yards, 6 TDs in Hawks’ rout over Northwest

‘They made more plays than we did’: Valley’s late TD hands Hawks 38-35 loss

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The Ankeny football team knows how to rebound from a tough loss. Now, the Hawks will have to do it again. Mason Morrow threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Ayden Price with 13 seconds left and fifth-ranked Valley defeated No. 1 Ankeny, 38-35, on Friday at Valley Stadium. "I definitely think we will bounce back stronger," said Ankeny receiver Brady … [Read more...] about ‘They made more plays than we did’: Valley’s late TD hands Hawks 38-35 loss

Roosevelt has no answers for Hawks’ aerial attack, lousy field position

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The entire first half of Friday's football game at Ankeny Stadium was played on one end of the field. Second-ranked Ankeny took advantage of great field position to build a 42-0 halftime lead and went on to defeat No. 10 Des Moines Roosevelt, 49-6, in a matchup of Group 1 teams in the new Class 5A. "I'm not shocked," said Ankeny coach Rick Nelson. "But … [Read more...] about Roosevelt has no answers for Hawks’ aerial attack, lousy field position